What does “Wellness” mean and how do you get there?

Q: Mr. Pedometer, you call your group “World Walk to Wellness,” but what exactly is ‘wellness”?

A: That’s a good question! Wellness certainly is more than the absence of illness. May is Mental Health Month, so we turned to Mental Health America (MHA, formerly known as the National Mental Health Association) to get their definition:

“Wellness is defined as ‘an active process of becoming aware of and making choices towards a more successful existence.’

“Because living ‘a successful existence’ means something different to each individual, wellness can be many things, but it generally includes the pursuit of health, defined as ‘a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity,’ and working towards achieving one’s full potential.”

MHA outlines many “pathways to wellness,” the first ones of which may sound very familiar:

Balanced diet (Eat right)

Regular exercise (Move more)

Enough sleep (Sleep well)

A sense of self-worth

Development of coping skills that promote resiliency

Emotional awareness

Connections to family, friends, and community

According to the MHA, we should “take periodic readings of our emotional well-being, just as we are careful to check our blood pressure and to get cancer screenings.” National Mental health Month might be a good time to try one of these strategies:

Be good to yourself

Show gratitude

Keep good friends close

Take care of your community

Eat one less cookie

Learn how to let go

Walk instead of driving

As for that last one, why not consider starting your weekend with a walk outdoors?